System for exercising the lower extremities in seated persons

ABSTRACT

The system is particularly suitable for persons who must remain in seated position over long periods, for instance, persons working in offices and the like. The system comprises one or two support surfaces ( 2 ) for the feet of the user, which are moved by a motor-driven base ( 1 ). Said support surfaces ( 2 ) may perform an alternating longitudinal movement, a lifting and lowering movement or a movement combining the latter two. The support surfaces ( 2 ) are moved, for example, by means of connecting rods ( 5 ) hingedly connected to said support surfaces ( 2 ) in the central point ( 6 ) and hingedly connected by their other end to eccentric pivots ( 9 ) allocated to respective toothed wheels ( 7 ) which are mounted with rotational freedom on their respective axis ( 8 ), an intermediate motor driven pinion ( 10 ) that conveys rotational movements in opposite direction to the wheels ( 7 ) being placed between said wheels. The support surface can be embodied as a bar that is transversal relative to the motor-driven base ( 1 ), which is preferably used in collective transport vehicles such as motor coaches, airplanes, etc.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention refers to a system that has been specially designed so that an operator who has to remain in the seated position on account of the nature of his work may exercise his lower extremities in the course of the working day with the resultant beneficial effect that this has on his/her general state of health and without impairing job performance.

[0002] The invention is primarily applicable in the sphere of office jobs and the like, where an operator has to remain seated during the larger part of the working day, although it may also be used in rehabilitation tasks and in any other circumstances in which similar performance is required, as is the case of collective transport vehicles on long journeys during which passengers are immobilized because of the shortage of space available.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] As is common knowledge, physical exercise is absolutely fundamental for maintaining a good state of health. Although certain working activities entail the necessary practice of physical exercise, there are however an increasing number of people who have to remain seated behind a computer, an office desk, etc. during practically the whole working day, performing wholly intellectual tasks with practically no physical exercise, especially at lower limb level.

[0004] This physical inactivity has a negative impact on health in the course of time creating situations of discomfort, fatigue, leg pains, etc.

[0005] The obvious solution to this problem is to carry out physical exercises outside working hours and in this respect there are people who devote a certain time every day to walking or performing different types of physical exercises, but obviously such person make up a minority group, as the vast majority do not have the time or means to perform such exercises.

[0006] There are numerous kinds of gymnastic apparatus, but none of them allows a person to carry out a certain physical exercise while working.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The system proposed by the invention provides a fully satisfactory solution to the afore-mentioned problem inasmuch as it permits the lower limbs to be exercised on the job during working hours. As pointed out above, the system does not interfere with the normal performance of the job to be done insofar as it is designed for persons who remain seated, i.e. for people whose legs are not involved in the work being done and which may therefore be mobilized, within certain limits, without affecting body stability and, therefore, without affecting the individual work rate.

[0008] For this purpose and more specifically the system consists of a motor-driven base for positioning under the desk, a motor-driven base which moves at least one support surface for the user's feet, which are thus subjected to a mobilization that extends to the whole of the lower extremities.

[0009] This mobilization may be simultaneous for both feet, i.e. they move together, specifically when they are resting on a single support surface, or their movements may be independent, alternating for instance, when two support surface, one for each foot, play a part in the system.

[0010] At the same time, the movement may also be of different types, specifically a longitudinal sliding movement of the feet, a lifting movement, a rocking movement or a mixed movement resulting from the combination of the foregoing.

[0011] In any case, the motor-driven base will conveniently support the bearing surfaces with freedom of movement for these and the driving element of said base will be connected to the support surface or surfaces by conventional type driving means which enable the desired movement to be performed.

[0012] In other embodiment versions it is possible to achieve new movements or movement already known by new means.

[0013] More specifically, one of the new possibilities envisaged consists of establishing on the motor-driven base a pair of longitudinally aligned vertical axles on each of which transverse and parallel rocking arms are mounted, which in turn are linked hingedly to the underside of the support surfaces, forming with these a deformable quadrilateral, while linked hingedly to one of these arms there is a connecting rod that links this quadrilateral to the motor-driven wheel eccentric to operate the assembly, thereby achieving an alternating longitudinal movement of the aforesaid support surfaces or, in other words, of the user's feet.

[0014] Another alternative consists of establishing a lifting and lowering movement for the feet, accompanied by a lateral rocking movement of same, in which case the support surfaces are fixed to a transverse support integral with a longitudinal axle mounted with freedom of movement, by way of a pair of bearings, on the motor-driven base, the aforesaid axle, by way of an eccentric piece, a connecting rod and another eccentric mounted on the driving wheel, an alternating rotational movement which is translated into a lateral rocking movement for the assembly made up of the two support surfaces, which may optionally be embodied in just one.

[0015] If the aim is for the movement of the bearing surfaces to be alternating and vertical only, i.e. without lateral rocking for such surfaces, a similar solution to that just described here may be used, with the exception that instead of using a rigid transverse connection support between the two bearing surfaces, two parallel arms should be used, hinged at their mid-point, one to the drive shaft and the other to a mere support shaft and linked in turn hingedly at their ends to lower vertical arms of the bearing surfaces, the latter forming a deformable parallelogram which permits the raising and lowering of the bearing surfaces without their losing, in turn, their horizontality.

[0016] Lastly, the bearing surface or surfaces may be provided solely with a longitudinal rocking movement, i.e. a raising and lowering movement of the area corresponding to the anterior extremity of the feet, in which case the bearing surface will be provided with a traverse shaft, offset to the rear, mounted with rotational freedom on the motor-driven base and integral with which there is a descending intermediate connecting rod, linked hingedly at its free end to another longitudinal connecting rod linked to the driving wheel eccentric.

[0017] In the event of the system being applied on collective transport vehicles, instead of there being a single support platform for the feet or else separate platforms, the supports are composed of a single transverse bar, which is driven back and forth or else rocked, or in other words, is raised and lowered with a rocking movement.

[0018] More specifically, in this alternative embodiment or application the principle of the system is that two separate parallel supports are mounted on the motor-driven base, preferably matching end parts of the base, and between the supports of which a traverse rotational shaft is mounted so that on this rotational shaft two side arms are mounted in turn, provided on the inside with supports, one of which is linked to a connecting rod, which is hinged eccentrically at its other end to a drive wheel, so that the alternating movement of this connecting rod entails the alternating movement of the arm to which the former is associated and thereby the rotation of the shaft between the base supports, at the same time bringing about the movement of the other arm, so that between both arms a bar is mounted which will form the support element for the feet, said bar being supplemented with an encasing tube turning freely on them, so that when rocking back or forth takes place it causes said casing to turn and thereby provides permanent support for the user's feet without varying their position, i.e. moving back and forth in unison with their support on the bar.

[0019] In another embodiment version, besides turning back and forth, the arms may carry out an upward and downward rocking movement as these arms are made up of two parts both connected to the transverse rotational shaft mounted between the supports.

[0020] In the former case of the two solutions just referred to, the bar ad therefore the feet resting on it undergo a back and forth movement with a slight arching in that forward and backward longitudinal movement, while in the latter case the bar undergoes a raising and lowering movement, or in other words, rocking up and down, naturally in a slightly arched movement as in the previous case.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] To supplement the description being given and in order to assist a clearer appreciation of the features of the invention, in accordance with a preferential specimen of practical embodiment of same, a set of drawings is attached wherein, for illustrative and not restrictive purposes, the following is represented:

[0022]FIG. 1.—It shows a side elevational and upper plan view of a first practical embodiment of the system for exercising the lower extremities at static work stations which represents the object of the present invention, in which tow support surfaces take part and where the movement of said surfaces is longitudinal and alternating.

[0023]FIG. 2.—It shows, according to a representation similar to that of FIG. 1, an alternative embodiment version in which a single bearing surface participates, provided also with an alternating longitudinal movement.

[0024]FIG. 3.—It shows an embodiment version, according to a representation similar to that of the previous figures, in which tow bearing surfaces participate, which in this case are subjected both to a longitudinal movement and to a raising and lowering movement.

[0025]FIG. 4.—It shows two side elevational views and an upper plan view of another embodiment version in which two bearing surfaces also participate, but in this case affected by a combined longitudinal and rocking movement.

[0026]FIG. 5.—It shows a representation similar to that of FIG. 4 but corresponding to another way of obtaining movements similar to those of the last case.

[0027]FIG. 6.—It shows a representation similar to that of FIG. 3 but corresponding to another way of obtaining movements similar to those of the aforesaid FIG. 3.

[0028]FIG. 7.—It shows a side elevational view and an upper plan view of an alternative embodiment of the system.

[0029]FIG. 8.—It shows two side elevational views and an upper plan view of another alternative embodiment of the system.

[0030]FIGS. 9 and 10.—They in turn show similar views to that of FIG. 8, referring to respective versions of practical embodiment of the system.

[0031]FIG. 11.—It shows a side elevational view and an upper plan view of a practical alternative embodiment of the lower extremity exercising system, applicable primarily to transport vehicles, without ruling out its use or application anywhere else. In this figure we may see the direction of longitudinal forward movement of the bar forming the support for the feet.

[0032]FIG. 12.—It shows the same side elevational and plan views as the embodiment represented in the previous figure, indicating the direction of backward movement of the foot support bar.

[0033]FIGS. 13 and 14.—They show respective pairs of elevational and lateral views, respectively, of another alternative embodiment in which instead of moving forward and backward the foot support bar rocks in an ascending and descending direction.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0034] If we refer in the first place to FIG. 1, we see that the practical embodiment of the system for exercising the lower limbs advocated here consists of a housing or motor-driven base (1), on which are mounted, with the option of longitudinal sliding, a pair of support surfaces (2), suitable in shape and size to take the user's feet, moving longitudinally and in opposing directions in accordance with the arrows referenced with (4), for which purpose and by way of the respective connecting rods (5), linked hingedly at (6) to the mid-point of said support surfaces (2) are connected by respective toothed wheels (/), mounted with rotational freedom by way of their shafts (8) on the actual base or housing (1), toothed wheels (7) to which the connecting rods (5) are linked by way of an eccentric pivot (9), the two toothed wheels (7) corresponding to the two support surfaces (2) being furthermore joined together by means of an intermediate pinion (10), which is what receives the movement of the corresponding motor, not represented in the drawing and which supplies rotational movements to the wheels (7) in the opposite direction in order to achieve alternating movements at the support surfaces (2) of an extent close to the diameter of the wheels (/) and in opposite directions.

[0035] The layout described is basically repeated in the practical embodiment represented in FIG. 2, in which there is a single support surface (3) for both feet, with the evident difference that in this case there will be a single connecting rod (5) and a single wheel (7) as well, which in this case will not be toothed and which will receive the movement directly from the motor by way of its own shaft (8).

[0036] In FIG. 3 another embodiment version is represented in which two support surfaces (2) participate, as in the case of FIG. 1, although in this case said support bases (2) linked to respective supports (13) which are moved by a pair of transverse drive axles (11) and (12), provided at their wheel ends with eccentric pivots (14) and (15), whereby, in addition to the same longitudinal movement as in the case of FIG. 1, a vertical movement is achieved between the end situation shown with a continuous and dotted line in the lateral view in this FIG. 3.

[0037] With the participation also of two support surfaces (2), the embodiment of FIG. 4 envisages the existence of a single motor-drive transverse shaft (16) terminated at each end with a wheel provided with respective opposing lugs (17), by way of which movement is transmitted to the support surfaces (2) relatively close to one of their ends, while their other end rests on the actual motor-driven base (1) by way of sliding supports (18), so that an upward/downward rocking movement of one of the ends of each support surface (2) is achieved, while the other end is kept at a constant height level, parallely to a horizontal movement of said support surface.

[0038] In the embodiment in FIG. 5 similar movements are achieved to those obtained in FIG. 4, but more extensive in the horizontal or longitudinal movement of the support surfaces (2), for which purpose the structure of the embodiment in FIG. 1 is repeated, as regards the existence of the hinged pivots (6), the toothed wheels (7) and the drive pinion (10), but with the exception that in this case the swivel pivots (6) can rock sideways, for example by means of a cardan drive or 90 a-hinged rocker arm, where the base or housing (1) has a ramp (19) and each support surface (2) has a pair of longitudinally spaced lower lugs (20) and (21), the pivot being designed to coincide with the ramp (19) in order to make the support surface (2) rock, as represented in the two side elevational views in the afore-mentioned FIG. 5.

[0039] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, in which also two support surfaces (2) participate, each of the is connected to the housing or base (1) by means of two pairs of connecting rods (31), hinged at their ends (32) both to the support surface (2) and to the housing (1), as may be seen especially in the side view, there being linked to the mid-point of the foregoing connecting rods (31) and also hingedly a drive rod (33), which is linked hingedly to a cross-arm (34), rocking on the housing (1) at its mid point (35) and extended in a short arm (36) by which both connecting rods (33) receive an opposing alternati9ng movement from a drive wheel (37) provided with an eccentric pivot (38) for transmitting movement to a connecting rod (39) linked to said arm (36). In this case the drive system described supplies a rocking movement to the connecting rods (31), equivalent to a longitudinal and horizontal movement of the support surfaces (2), which is combined with a raising and lowering movement, also generated by the actual rocking of said rods (31).

[0040] In an embodiment version shown in FIG. 7, on the motor.-driven base (1), in respect of which the support surfaces (2) have to be mobile, a pair of vertical shafts (40-41) are established, aligned longitudinally and centrally, on each of which an arm (42-43) is mounted, these arms (42-43) being parallel and identical and joined hingedly at their free end (44) to respective pivots (45) integral with the under side of the support surfaces (2), forming with the latter a deformable quadrilateral in which the rocking of these arms (42-43) causes a longitudinal movement of the surfaces (2) in the same plane, as may be seen in any of the figures and in accordance with the arrows represented in them.

[0041] This rocking movement of the arms (42-43) is carried out specifically on the arm (42) to which a connecting rod (47), which links said arm (42) to the drive wheel (49) eccentric (48), is attached hingedly by way of a swivel pivot offset in relation to the shaft (40).

[0042] Moving on now to the practical embodiment of FIG. 8, in it and on the motor-driven base there are established a pair of supports (5) which, for instance with the aid of bearings, form supports for a longitudinal shaft (51) with which a transverse support (52) is integral, being integral in turn with the support surfaces (2), so that an angular rocking movement of the shaft (51) causes a lateral rocking movement with parallel raising and lowering of the support surfaces (2), which are shown by the two side elevational views of the aforesaid FIG. 8.

[0043] In order to achieve this rocking, the shaft (51) is terminated at one of its ends with a small radial extension (53) to which is attached hingedly the arm (54) which connects said shaft (51) to the drive wheel (56) eccentric (55), so that the rotational movement of said wheel (56) becomes an angular rocking movement of the shaft (51), which in turn is converted into the aforesaid rocking movement for the support surfaces (2).

[0044] Going on now to analyse the practical embodiment shown in FIG. 9, relatively similar to that of the previous figure, in it with the shaft (51) that receives the movement of the drive wheel (56) there collaborates a second shaft (57), parallel and below the shaft (51), mounted like the former on supports (50′), somewhat higher than those in the previous case, so that with these shafts (51) and (57) there are associated respective transverse and parallel arms (58) and (59), which are connected hingedly at their ends (69) to vertical arms integral with the under side of the support surface (2), said arms (58), (59) and (61) forming a deformable parallelogram which keeps said arms (61) vertical all the time, permitting their vertical movement, as shown in the two side elevational views in the above-mentioned FIG. 9, i e. a vertical alternating movement of the a support surfaces (2) is achieved with the action of the drive wheel (56), in which these are kept horizontal all the time.

[0045] In the embodiment in FIG. 10, a single support surface (3) is established on the motor-driven base, although obviously there could be two surfaces, specifically said surface being provided with a transverse eccentric shaft (62), mounted on end supports (63), said shaft (62) with which there is integral a lower radial arm (64), which is attached hingedly at its free end (65) to a longitudinal connecting rod (66), which is attached hingedly at its other end to the drive wheel (68) eccentric (67), so that in this case the rotational movement of said drive wheel (68) is converted into a rocking movement of the arm or extension (64) of the support surface (3) and consequently into a longitudinal rocking movement of the former, between the limit situations shown in the two lateral views of the afore-mentioned FIG. 10.

[0046] In FIG. 11 it may be seen that on the motor-driven base (1) in relation to which the support surfaces, composed in this case of a transverse bar (89) and a tubular casing (90), which turns freely in respect of the bar (89), have to be mobile, two supports (82) are established, arranged parallel to each other and adjacent to the sides of the aforesaid base (1) and matching up with one of the ends of same, between which supports (82) are mounted two arms (83), one which is attached by way of one end (4) with a connecting rod (85), which is hinged at the other end by means of an eccentric (86) on a rotating wheel (87), as a driving element which is naturally operated by a motor not shown. The arms (83) are mounted on a rotating shaft (88) established between the side supports (82), so that the bar (89) with its casing (90) is located between the opposite end of those arms (83).

[0047] In this way, the rotational movement of the wheel (87) produces the rotational and sliding movement of the connecting rod (85), transmitting said movement to the arms (83) and thereby to the shaft (88), causing the bar (89) mounted between the arms (83) to effect and back and forth movement, as shown by the arrows represented in the side elevational view in FIGS. 11 and 12. This continuous to and fro movement by the bar (89) and therefore by the feet resting on it, will describe a small arc, which will be formed by the turning of the arms (83) on the shaft (88).

[0048]FIGS. 13 and 14 show an alternative embodiment so that, instead of being longitudinal to and fro, the movement is rocking up and down, so that in this case the components are the same, with the only exception that the arms are determined by the two sections (83′) and (83??) in order to make the sections (83″) rock up and down as shown in the side elevational views in FIGS. 13 and 14.

[0049] Both the movements described and the means for obtaining them are merely informative and any other kind of conventional drive transmission means may be used without this affecting the essence of the invention in any way at all. 

1. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, of special application in stationary work posts in which the person has to remain seated, which being of the type of those which have one or two motorised bases or support surfaces for resting the feet of the user are capable of providing different movements of displacement, vertical, horizontal, rocking, either alternating or simultaneous or the combination of various thereof, characterised in that the parallel supports (13) of the support surface (2) each receive two pivots (14) and (15) mounted eccentrically on respective wheels coupled to the ends of a pair of transversal axles (11) and (12), which receive the movement of the motorised base.
 2. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, of special application in stationary work posts in which the person has to remain seated, which being of the type of those which have one or two motorised bases or support surfaces for resting the feet of the user are capable of providing different movements of displacement, vertical, horizontal, rocking, either alternating or simultaneous or the combination of various thereof, characterised in that each support surface (2) receives the movement through some connecting rods (5) joined in a hinged manner to the middle point (8) thereof by their other end is joined in a hinged manner to an eccentric nipple (9) mounted on a toothed wheel (7), the toothed wheels (7) corresponding to both support surfaces (2) being coupled to an intermediate and common pinion (10) which receives the movement from the motorised base (1), each pivot (6) being capable of rocking laterally.
 3. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, of special application in stationary work posts in which the person has to remain seated, which being of the type of those which have one or two motorised bases or support surfaces for resting the feet of the user are capable of providing different movements of displacement, vertical, horizontal, rocking, either alternating or simultaneous or the combination of various thereof, characterised in that each support surface (2) receives from below and in a hinged manner two pairs of linking bars (31), through which it is joined in a hinged manner to the base or casing (1), emerging from one of the pairs of linking bars (31) between the support points (32) a connecting rod (33) and the two connecting rods (33) being joined in a hinged manner to a crosspiece (34) mounted in a rocking manner on the casing (1) by its middle point (35) and provided with a radial arm (36) which receives the movement, through a connecting rod (39), of an eccentric pivot (38) mounted on a wheel (37) which receives the movement from the motorised base (1).
 4. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, of special application in stationary work posts in which the person has to remain seated, which being of the type of those which have one or two motorised bases or support surfaces for resting the feet of the user are capable of providing different movements of displacement, vertical, horizontal, rocking, either alternating or simultaneous or the combination of various thereof, characterised in that from the motorised base (1) emerge two vertical axles (40-41), in longitudinal and median alignment, on which are mounted in a hinged manner two transversal arms (42-43), which by their free ends (44) are joined in a hinged manner to hinge pivots (45) firmly joined to the lower face of the support surfaces (2), said arms configuring with said surfaces a deformable parallelogram, capable of being worked by means of the connecting rod (47) joined to the nearer arm (42) at a point (46) off-centred with respect to its rocking axle (40).
 5. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, according to fourth claim, characterised in that from the motorised base (1) emerge two rests or supports (50), in longitudinal and median alignment, for holding an axle (51) with freedom to turn, to which axle is firmly joined a transversal support (52), in turn firmly joined by its ends to the support surfaces (2), which rock laterally and jointly with the axle (51).
 6. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, according to fourth claim, characterised in that from the motorised base (1) emerge two supports (50′), in longitudinal and median alignment, for a longitudinal axle (51), which through one of its ends receives the movement of the drive wheel (56) through the corresponding connecting rod (54), to which axle (51) is firmly joined a transversal arm (58) and under which is established on the same supports (50′) a second axle (57), to which in turn is firmly joined a second arm (59), parallel to the arm (58) and joined like the latter by its ends (60) to respective vertical arms (61) emerging from the lower face of the support surfaces (2) whereby the arms (58), (59) and (60) configure a deformable parallelogram in which the vertical arms (61) retain their verticality during the rocking of the transversal arms (58) and (59) delivered by the rocking of the axle (51).
 7. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, of special application in stationary work posts in which the person has to remain seated, which being of the type of those which have one or two motorised bases or support surfaces for resting the feet of the user are capable of providing different movements of displacement, vertical, horizontal, rocking, either alternating or simultaneous or the combination of various thereof, characterised in that the support surface for the user's feet is materialised in a bar (89) with an external jacket (90) turning freely with respect to the latter, which support bar (89) is mounted between the ends of two arms (83) connected by a common turning axle, the opposite end of one of said arms (83) connected to the corresponding joining connecting rod (85), being through an eccentric (86), with the rotating wheel (87) through which the corresponding movement is transmitted.
 8. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, according to seventh claim, characterised in that the axle (88) is mounted between a pair of supports (82) established near to the sides of the motorised base (1) and in correspondence with one of the end parts of the latter.
 9. System for exercising the lower extremities of seated persons, according to seventh and eighth claims, characterised in that the arms (83) are defined by two segments (83′-83″) both connected to the common axle (88), the segment (83′) of the arms being that which is connected to the connecting rod (85), whilst between segments (83″) of those arms the support bar (89) is mounted, so that the alternating and axial movement of the connecting rod (85) is transmitted through the segments (83′) of the arms and from these to segments (83″), producing a rocking in the upward and downward direction of the same and therefore of the support bar (89). 